KIN TOWN, Japan - As Atsushi Higa traverses up the hillside clearing, sweat rolls down his face. However, an old dream continues to drive him forward, and he refuses to quit despite the difficult work.
“In 1978, approximately forty people of the Mount Yae-Dake community had a dream to create a farm,” said Higa, the present-day owner of the farm. “None of the community members were farmers or knew exactly what to do, but we didn’t let that stop us. We have lost the majority of the people who work and volunteer at the farm for various reasons, so we have become shorthanded.”
Marines with 7th Communication Battalion volunteered Feb. 21 to help Higa, his family and other local residents keep their dream alive.
The effort to help clean up the farm started when Higa’s family reached out for help through Takayuki Kayo, the community relations specialist for Camp Hansen, who contacted Marines assigned to the camp to look for volunteers.
“Takayuki told us that there was a family requesting help with their farm,” said Master Sgt. Ciriaco R. Ayala, the operations chief for 7th Comm. Bn., III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. “(I really wanted) to come out and help.”
The Marines spent several hours alongside the Higa family and local residents, clearing underbrush from the hillside of the farm where fruit trees grow and removing rocks from a field which Higa hopes will grow wheat.
“I hope to have a bigger farm one day that will provide jobs for the people of the community,” said Higa.
In just one day’s volunteer work, the Marines were able to clear out all of the fallen underbrush as well as the rocks from the farm’s field.
“It’s amazing to see how much we were able to accomplish in just the few hours we were out here,” said Ayala. “It’s been a great experience coming out here and helping the Higa family and local residents with their farm.”
After a hard day’s work, the Marines took time to climb to the top of Mount Yae-Dake to enjoy the site of Okinawa from above.
“We have a saying that once you meet someone, they are your ‘brother,’” said Higa. “I am happy to call the Marines that came out here and helped, ‘my family.’”